Soap and mounting therefor



y 4, 1955 E. w. SMITH 2,708,807

SOAP AND MOUNTING THEREFOR Filed Jan. 2'7, 1951 Attorney United States Patent SOAP AND MOUNTING THEREFOR Earl w. Smith, Fresno, Calif. Application January 27, 1951, Serial No. 208,132 12 Claims. (CI. 45-28) This invention has to do with soap and a mounting therefor and it is a general object of the invention to provide structure which is practical in the home, in oflices, and in public places such as wash rooms, etc.

, The structure including this invention involves a cake of soap characterized by a body of soap, or like material, on a tubular liner, which liner is open at its ends and is adapted to be carried on a core. The liner is' preferably formed of inexpensive, rigid, material such as a hard cellulose pulp, or the like, and its exterior is of such configuration that the body of soap will not turn or slip thereon, and it is further preferred that the exterior of the liner be coated with or that it carry rough hard material such as sand or like granular material, that effectively defies or resists cutting with an ordinary implement such as a knife, or the like.

A core is provided to carry the soap cake and engages in or through the center of the cake. The core has a head at one end and an extension at the other end and is keyed to the liner so that the cake is prevented from turning on the core. A carrier is provided for receiving and holding the core and is preferably provided with an end face against which the soap cake abuts and with a socket that received the extension of the core. Mounting means mounts the carrier on a suitable support such as a horizontal member or a wall and preferably involves a base and suitable attaching means. A key controlled retaining means releasably retains the extension of the core in the socket of the carrier and is preferably such that the extension latches in locked engagement upon being moved to the fully inserted position in the socket and requires key manipulation for release.

A general object of this invention is to provide a structure maintaining soap available for use and in desirable form and condition. The structure mounts or supports soap so that it does not become soaked or saturated with water and is always pleasant and desirable to use. With the structure of the present invention the soap remains hard and lasts a very long time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure in which a bar or length of soap is held in a vertical position so that water drains or runs off of the soap. In a preferred form of the invention the elongate body of soap depends from a holder so that water drains from the soap and so that the holder remains dry at all times.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a structure which provides for economical use of soap. With the structure of the present invention soap will not chip or crack or break but remains intact in a cake or body and stays clean and usable until all but completely consumed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a soap holder which is of simple, inexpensive manufacture, and which is simple and convenient to mount and use. The structure of the present invention can be installed easily and. quickly and it is such as to support a body of soap ready for immediate and convenient use. A further feature of the structure is that it is free of levers, buttons,

or other actuating devices that complicate mechanisms of this general character.

It is another object of this invention to provide a soap holder to which soap can be easily and quickly applied and from which soap can be easily and quickly removed, as circumstances require. A feature of the present invention is a structure involving a key controlled mounting for soap which is such that the body or bar of soap is not subject to being removed except by a person having the proper key.

It is another object of this invention to provide a soap cake that is practical to use but is not subject to being cut or split for removal from its supporting holder.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of typical preferred forms and applications of my invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevation of a typical form of the invention showing it mounted on a wall in conjunction with a typical wash basin. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view taken substantially as indicated by line 22 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken as indicated by line 33 on Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken as indicated by line 44 on Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken as indicated by line 55' on Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a view taken as indicated by line 66 on Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a view showing another form of construction mounted on a horizontal support. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a key that can be used in carrying out the invention, and Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 3.

This invention provides, generally, a soap cake A which is preferably elongate and tubular in form, a core B carrying the cake A, a carrier C for the core B, mounting means D for the carrier, and key controlled retaining means E retaining the core in engagement with the carrier.

The soap cake as provided by this invention may vary Widely in size, form and construction. It is preferred, however, that the cake should involve a body 10 of soap and a liner 11 in and permanently joined to the body of soap. The particular body 10 illustrated in the drawings is an elongate tubular element with a round or substantially round exterior 12 with a central longitudinal opening 13 that is polygonal in cross-sectional configuration.

The liner 11 provided in the cake A extends longitudinally of the cake from one end to the other and occurs in or lines the opening 13 that extends through the body 10 of soap. In the particular case illustrated the liner 11 extends continuously from one end to the other of the body 10. The liner may, if desired, have end flanges 14 that occur at the two ends of the body 10.

In accordance with the present invention the liner 11 is formed of a body or mass of inexpensive material such as a hard cellulose material that may be readily pressed, molded or extruded into shape and, in accordance with the present invention its exterior is such that the body of soap 10 is permanently bended thereto. In the case illustrated the desired bonding engagement between the body 10 and the liner 1]; is gained or aided by forming the liner so that its exterior is longitudinally fluted or provided with longitudinally extending recesses 15, and the entire exterior of the liner is occupied by or covered with a coarse hard granular material 16 such as sand, or the like. (See Fig. 9.) The granular material may be applied to the liner by a suitable adhesive or may be embedded in or bonded in the liner, as circumstances re quire. In practice the rough abrasive material 16 coating the liner 11 is preferably such as to effectively resist 3 cutting with an ordinary implement such as a knife, or the like.

In practice the soap may be pressed, molded, or otherwise applied to the liner and when in place on the liner the body of soap together with the liner forms a permanent unit in which the soap and liner are inseparable, except of course by complete mutilation of either or both of these elements.

The core B as provided by the present invention is a simple, elongate member having a body portion with an enlargement or head 21 at one end and an extension 22 at the other end. The head engages or occurs at one end of the assembled liner 11 and soap body ltl while the extension 22 extends from or projects beyond the other end of the cake.

In accordance with the preferred form of the invention a locked or keyed engagement is provided between the core B and the liner 11. In the particular case illustrated the core is made olygonal in cross-sectional configuration and slidably fits a correspondingly shaped central opening 31 in the liner 11. Through this construction the cake of soap is eifectively maintained in a predetermined rotative position on the core.

The carrier C provided to receive and hold the extension of the core B is a rigid element mounted in a fixed or predetermined position and serves to hold the core in a fixed or predetermined position. The carrier C is characterized by a socket opening that slidably receives the extension 22 of the core. In the preferred form of the invention the carrier has an end face 41 d which is fiat and against which one end of the soap cake abuts so that the soap cake when in place is confined between the head 21 of the core and the face 41 of the carrier.

The mounting means D may be varied depending upon the location in which the carrier is to be mounted and it serves as a means for supporting the carrier rigidly in a predetermined position. In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, the mounting means D involves a base plate 59 with a cavity 51 receiving a wall plate 52 secured on a wall by an anchor bolt 53 or the like. A suitable pin 54 and set screw 55 cooperate to secure the base plate 56) on the wall plate 52 as will appear from Fig. 2 of the drawings. In this particular form of the invention a suitable neck 56 connects the carrier C and the base plate 59 and the structure is such that when in place on a wall W or the like the carrier C occurs on the projecting neck 56 so that the socket 40 is vertically disposed and opens downward. With this arrangement the core B when in place engaged with the carrier C supports the cake A in a vertical position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings and the cake depends so that any water or moisture applied thereto drains from the lower end of the cake.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings the carrier C has an enlarged base portion Stl taking the place of the baseplate 56 and the bottom 56 of part 5t! seats on the top of a horizontal support VJ. In this case the part 59 has a threaded depending extension 60 engaged through an opening in the support W and a nut 61 or the like is applied to the part 60 to hold the structure in place. In this case the carrier C is vertically disposed and the socket thereof opens upwardly with the result that a cake of soap mounted on the carrier projects upwardly, as clearly shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

The retaining means E may, in practice, vary widely, it being preferred that this means he suitable device or mechanism serving to releasably retain the core in engagement with the carrier C. It is preferred, in practice that the mechanism be a key controlled structure so that unauthorized persons cannot disconnect the core B from the carrier C. In the particular form of the invention illustrated the means E involves, generally, a rotatable lock dog 65 carried in a lateral opening 66 provided in the carrier which receives the core. The opening 66 intercepts the socket which receives the core and the lock dog is recessed or cut away at one side 67 so that when the dog is in the proper rotative position the extension 22 of the core can be moved into the socket past the dog. A recess 70 is provided in the core and forms a shoulder 71 with which the dog cooperates. When the dog is in the rotative position shown in Fig. 7 it engages under shoulder 71, thus positively preventing removal of the extension from the socket.

A spring is provided to normally yieldingly urge the lock dog 65 around in the opening 66 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 7. In the particular case illustrated the spring is a helical spring surrounding a reduced head 81 on the lock dog. The spring has one end 32 is engaged with the head 81 while the other end is anchored at 83 to a plug 84 tight in an enlargement 85 of the opening 66. The plug 84 is tight in the enlargement 85 being forced or pressed therein, and the lock dog and plug cooperate to limit the extent to which the lock dog can be rotated. In the particular case illustrated the inner end of the dog has an opening therein and a lug M projects from the lock dog 65 and operates in the opening 98 as will appear from Fig. 5 of the drawings. The lug 91 and opening 90 cooperate so that the lock dog is normally stopped in the position shown in Fig. 7 where it retains the core extension in the socket.

To release or disengage the lock dog from the core extension 2. key K such as is shown in Fig. 8 is inserted through an opening 95 in the outer end of the plug 84 and is engaged in a diametrically disposed opening or slot 596 provided in the head 81 on the lock dog 65. In the case illustrated the notch 96 is deep in the head 81 and receives the end 82 of the spring 80. It will be apparent from the drawings how the construction just described makes it readily practical to provide various interfitting parts or key mechanisms serving to prevent unauthorized operation of the lock dog 65.

In using the structure provided by the present invention the cake of soap A, provided with a liner as above described, is applied to the core B and the core is then applied to the carrier C by inserting the extension of the core into the socket of the carrier. The extension will latch into the carrier past the lock dog 65 and when the extension is engaged by the lock dog the core is effectively attached to the carrier and will remain engaged therewith until deliberately released. The core engaged with or attached to the carrier holds the cake of soap vertically disposed and a person to use the soap merely rubs the hands on the soap. The soap under normal circumstances remains stationary so that the desired rubbing engagement occurs as the hands are manipulated over the body of soap. Any moisture or water deposited on the soap as a result of the foregoing operation immediately drains to the lower end of the cake and will either drip therefrom or accumulate thereon and finally evaporate. The portion of the soap engaged by the hands quickly dries so that the soap remains hard, in proper shape and provides adequate soap in a most convenient economical fashion.

When the body of soap has worn down to the point where the liner of the cake is exposed or when it approaches such condition, an attendant or person concerned may, by inserting the key, readily release the core from the carrier so that the old cake can be removed and a new cake applied in place. By providing a cake of soap with a liner with a surfacing of hard granular material thereon persons that would be inclined to cut the soap away from its mounting will quickly find that an ordinary knife or like implement will only chip the soap into undesirable particles and will not effectively perform such operation, and therefore such persons are discouraged from such efforts.

Having described only typical preferred forms and applications of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but

wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination, a bar of soap including a body of soap and an imperforate tubular liner in the body and having a rough hard surface to which the body is bonded, a core closely fitting within the liner and having an end projecting therefrom, a carrier holding the projecting end of the core and abutting the liner to prevent axial movement of the body relative to the carrier, and mounting means adapted to rigidly secure the carrier on a support.

2. In combination, a bar of soap including an elongate body of soap and a tubular liner with a polygonal opening in the body and extending from one end to the other thereof, a polygonal core engaged in the liner and projecting therefrom, the core having keyed engagement with the liner throughout the length thereof for preventing relative rotation therebetween, a carrier holding the core, and mounting means adapted to rigidly secure the carrier on a support.

3. In combination, a bar of soap including an elongate body of soap and a tubular liner in the body and extending from one end to the other thereof, a core with a head at one end and engaged in and keyed to the liner and having the other end projecting therefrom, a carrier receiving said other end of the core with an end of the liner abutting the carrier, means releasably retaining the core engaged with the carrier, and mounting means means adapted to rigidly secure the carrier on a support.

4. In combination, a bar of soap including a body of soap, an elongate tubular imperforate liner in the body, a core engaged in the liner and having an end projecting therefrom, a carrier receiving said end of the core, key controlled lock means on said carrier releasably engaging and retaining said end of the core engaged within the carrier, and mounting means adapted to secure the carrier on a support.

5. In combination, an elongate bar of soap including, an elongate body of soap, an elongate tubular imperforate liner in the body, a core closely fitting Within the liner and having an end projecting therefrom, a carrier holding said end of the core and abutting an end of said liner, and mounting means adapted to rigidly secure the carrier on a support, the core being vertically disposed and rigidly supporting the bar in a vertical position.

6. In combination, an elongate bar of soap including, an elongate body of soap, an elongate tubular imperforate liner in the body, a core closely fitting within the liner and having an end projecting therefrom, a carrier holding said end of the core, and abutting an end of said liner, and mounting means adapted to rigidly secure the carrier on a support, the core being vertically disposed and rigidly supporting the bar in a vertical position depending from the carrier.

7. In combination, an elongate bar of soap including, an elongate body of soap, an elongate tubular imperforate liner in the body, a core fitting within the liner and having an end projecting therefrom, a carrier holding said end of the core and abutting an end of said liner, and mounting means adapted to rigidly secure the carrier on a support, the core being vertically disposed and rigidly supporting the bar in a vertical position projecting upwardly from the carrier.

8. In an elongate holder for a bar of soap having a body of soap and a tubular liner therein and extending from one end to the other of the bar including, an elongate core engageable through the liner and having a head at one end of the bar abutting one end of the liner and a projection at the other endthereof, a carrier having a socket receiving the projection with the other end of the liner abutting the carrier, mounting means adapted to rigidly support the carrier, and releasable means retaining the projection in the socket.

9. In an elongate holder for a bar of soap having a body of soap and a tubular liner therein and extending from one end to the other of the bar including, an elongate core engageable through the liner and having a head at one end of the bar abutting one end of the liner and a projection at the other end thereof, a carrier having a socket receiving the projection with the other end of the liner abutting the carrier, mounting means adapted to rigidly support the carrier, and releasable means retaining the projection in the socket including a key controlled, rotatable lock dog.

10. In an elongate holder for a bar of soap having a body of soap and a tubular liner therein and extending from one end to the other of the bar including, an elongate core engageable through the liner and having a head at one end of the bar abutting one end of the liner and a projection at the other end thereof, a carrier having a socket receiving the projection with the other end of the liner abutting the carrier, mounting means adapted to rigidly support the carrier, and releasable means retaining the projection in the socket including a key controlled, pivoted lock dog and a tension spring normally yieldingly rotating the dog in a direction to engage and hold the projection.

11. In combination, a bar of soap including an elongate liner with a polygonal opening therethrough and a ribbed exterior having a hard rough surface, a polygonal core slidably engaged in the liner and having a head at one end of the bar and an extension projecting beyond the other end of the bar, a carrier having a socket receiving the extension, a key operated lock dog carried by the carrier and releasably holding the extension in the socket, and a mounting supporting the carrier.

12. In combination, an elongate bar of soap including an elongate liner with a polygonal opening therethrough and a ribbed exterior having a hard rough surface, a polygonal core slidably engaged through the liner and having a head at one end of the bar and an extension projecting beyond the other end of the bar, a carrier having a socket receiving the extension, a key operated lock dog carried by the carrier and releasably holding the extension in the socket, and a mounting supporting the carrier with the bar in a fixed vertical position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 420,252 Siersdorfer Ian. 28, 1890 552,023 Welch Dec. 24, 1895 655,937 Moltrup Aug. 14, 1900 847,053 Evans et a1 Mar. 12, 1907 849,978 Cox Apr. 9, 1907 852,305 Wach Apr. 30, 1907 1,034,187 Boutell July 30, 1912 1,050,504 Wilshusen Jan. 14, 1913 1,312,420 Narber Aug. 5, 1919 

